Best Acting Scenes.... EVER! - by Scots Taffer
Fafhrd on 9/3/2008 at 08:35
Quote Posted by Thirith
And Sam Rockwell's scene towards the end of
TAOJJBTCRF is made better by having him act the part twice, so you see the development: at the beginning, his (that is, the character's) acting is utter crap, the sort of thing you get in the worst amateur productions. And then, over time, something changes. And I'd slightly disagree with you on Rockwell assuming Pitt's mannerisms - there is that, but there is also a deep loathing for what he and Robert have done that's there at the same time. Jesse James didn't have that loathing; with him, there was more a kind of resignation and even welcoming of what's about to happen. But however you interpret the acting, it's strong as hell.
I was actually referring to the bit where he sits down and lights his cigar while Bob starts punching audience members. His posture and the way he lights up really drive home the idea that he is in some way channeling, or possessed by, Jesse.
SubJeff on 9/3/2008 at 10:19
Quote Posted by Dia
When Cruise is interrogating Nicholson in A Few Good Men: the whole scene leading up to and after Nicholson's 'You can't stand the truth' outburst.
Not trying to be dick but isn't AFGM well recognised as a bag of hammy over the top acting through and through?
Thirith on 9/3/2008 at 11:23
Quote Posted by Fafhrd
I was actually referring to the bit where he sits down and lights his cigar while Bob starts punching audience members. His posture and the way he lights up really drive home the idea that he is in some way channeling, or possessed by, Jesse.
I'll have to rewatch that scene. Hell, I have to rewatch the entire move. :)
Thirith on 9/3/2008 at 11:27
Quote Posted by demagogue
As for great dialogue, I thought
A Simple Plan was exceptional in that basically the whole movie is in the dialogue and tension among the characters, building up to this heroic scene -- (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78rcDhlwFJE)
The way Jakob is playing it off as a joke and holding back tears at the same time...
BBT is fantastic in
A Simple Plan anyway; also see the scene where he and his brother try to frame their hick friend/co-conspirator, and Thornton switches from making cruel, bitter fun of his brother to the actual framing part. Or the bit where he asks Paxton whether he ever feels evil. Bill Paxton isn't up to the acting - he's okay at best in this film - but Billy Bob Thornton is great.
D'Juhn Keep on 9/3/2008 at 11:51
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
Prior to "You're goddamn right I did" you mean, unless you mean the savagery with which he screams "I'll rip off your head and shit down your neck! You fucked with the wrong marine!", but I agree entirely. Another great one.
Yes, quite right! Prior it is (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hGvQtumNAY)
I think I was thinking of the fact he asks "did you order the code red" before the speech.
Angel Dust on 9/3/2008 at 12:07
Here's an oldie but a real goldie; Robert Mitchum in 'The Night Of The Hunter'. He is just flat out phenominal as one very scary preacher/killer and even though the film has an odd ending I would highly recommend checking it out. Here's a scene that might seem familiar to anyone who has seen Spike Lee's 'Do The Right Thing'.
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X20XIg38GcE)
And here is Klaus Kinski in 'Aguirre: The Wrath Of God'. I couldn't find the whole scene but this short clip shows some of the greatness of this performance.
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO-spuGvsAU&feature=related)
Scots Taffer on 9/3/2008 at 12:31
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Angel Dust on 9/3/2008 at 12:43
It's not that scene but that one is great too!
Scots Taffer on 9/3/2008 at 13:05
Quote Posted by Angel Dust
While that scene is undeniably a great one the baptism scene, for me, is far far better.
...
How do you feel about other generally narrative-less (?) directors like Fellini?
'8 1/2' doesn't have much in the way of a plot but that doesn't stop it from being one of the greatest films of all time.
It is good, yes, but I love how delightfully twisted the entire Milkshake scene is though. The simple and straightforward way he just asks Eliah to compromise everything he puts forward about himself is just so cold and malevolent, so calculated in exacting the revenge for the baptism and so obviously sadistic by Plainview extracting pleasure in the only way he knows how. I was laughing, cringing and wincing all at once during several parts of that scene.
As for Fellini, never seen a single movie of his. Probably because I have him pingeonholed in my head as high-brow/arthouse cinema, which I must profess to not being a huge fan (in my limited exposure). Mainly due to laziness, I don't enjoy searching for meaning in mediums unless I'm already engaged somehow.
Quote Posted by demagogue
I just saw
Mystic River -- (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a6qXegwVh8) --
Tim Robbins and Sean Penn both had great performances, but Sean Penn went above and beyond in this one.
...
I thought
A Simple Plan was exceptional in that basically the whole movie is in the dialogue and tension among the characters
I thought Mystic River was overacted trash, Penn probably being the worst offender of the lot.
Simple Plan is one of those criminally overlooked movies that even I forget about. I actually just got my hands on it again recently and mean to watch it soon, will be the first time since I saw it in the cinema and I remember it being great.
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Not trying to be dick but isn't AFGM well recognised as a bag of hammy over the top acting through and through?
Not really. Demi can't act at all, Tom overacts throughout, but Nicholson - despite his tendency to chew up the entire studio during a movie - delivers a mostly reserved and calculated performance except for an outburst that is driven by the entire character's motivations. That scene stands out because of his acting.
